debt not mine

agnes.1

can anyone help keep getting debt letters from wescot credit for a bill from british gas for an old address. we left this address four years before this bill was run up we have been to our old landlord and got a letter stating the date we left this address. We have sent copies of this letter to british gas and wescot but are getting nowhere. wescot keep putting this bill on hold until they investigate then they send out another bill two weeks later. we have lost count of the number of phone calls and letters that we have sent to them and now feel it will probably be cheaper just to pay them to stop the harrassment. We have also thought about going to a solicitor to bill them back for our time and phone calls. but can some one give us some ideas of what we can do.

lka200

sorry i cant advise you what to do but i wouldn't pay this bill. I had a similar thing happen when i swapped home phone supplier and it took months to resolve i received threatening letters saying they were going to take me to court but eventually after loads of letters phone calls i got it sorted. I wouldn't pay this bill if its not yours..why should you. Sorry i cant be of more help

lka200

I think that you may have a better response posting your query onto another thread as i think its in the wrong place here

jo_b_2

agnes.1 wrote: »

can anyone help keep getting debt letters from wescot credit for a bill from british gas for an old address. we left this address four years before this bill was run up we have been to our old landlord and got a letter stating the date we left this address. We have sent copies of this letter to british gas and wescot but are getting nowhere. wescot keep putting this bill on hold until they investigate then they send out another bill two weeks later. we have lost count of the number of phone calls and letters that we have sent to them and now feel it will probably be cheaper just to pay them to stop the harrassment. We have also thought about going to a solicitor to bill them back for our time and phone calls. but can some one give us some ideas of what we can do.

I haven't got any specific advice for you, agnes, but I have noticed another thread mentioning Westcott HERE. They were also being persued for somebody else's debt.

If your letters haven't had any effect, I'd personally go and see either a solicitor or the CAB for more advice as it must be getting very annoying by now!

fermi

National Debtline "bog off until you prove my liability for the debt" letter.

At least they wont be able to say they haven't been warned if you then report them to the authorities.

1 High Street,
Newtown,
Kent
R21 4RH
October 9, 2007

The Creditor/Debt Collector.
Company House,
Church Street,
Newtown,
Kent,
R1 7HG

Dear Sir/Madam

Ref: xxxxxxxxxxx

You have contacted us regarding the account with the above reference number, which you claim is owed by ourselves.

We would point out that we have no knowledge of any such debt being owed to The Creditor.

We are familiar with the ‘Office of Fair Trading Debt Collection Guidance’ which states that it is unfair to send demands for payment to an individual when it is uncertain that they are the debtor in question.

We would also point out that the OFT say under the Guidance that it is unfair to pursue third parties for payment when they are not liable. In not ceasing collection activity whilst investigating a reasonably queried or disputed debt you are using deceptive/and or unfair methods.

Furthermore, ignoring and/or disregarding claims that debts have been settled or are disputed and continuing to make unjustified demands for payment amounts to physical/psychological harassment.

We would ask that no further contact be made concerning the above accounts unless you can provide evidence as to our liability for the debt in question.

We await your written confirmation that this matter is now closed. Otherwise we will have no option but to make a complaint to the trading standards department and consider informing the OFT of your actions.

We look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully


Mrs A N Other

fermi

Might also be possible to involve:

www.energywatch.org.uk and/or www.energy-ombudsman.org.uk

if there is some failing on the part of British Gas. Not sure on that one.